NAT
NAT
The Japanese Language NAT-TEST is an examination that measures the Japanese language ability of students who are not native Japanese speakers. It is an acronym for Nihongo Achievement Test. It is derived from the Japanese language proficiency test that became the basis of the Japanese NAT-TEST.
The tests are separated by difficulty (5 levels) and general ability is measured in 3 categories:
- Grammar/Vocabulary
- Listening and
- Reading Comprehension.
NAT Levels :
NAT has 5 levels, the easiest level is 5 and the most difficult level is 1. Each level corresponds to its respective level on the JLPT (N5 to N1).
| Level | Study (Hours of study) | Suitable for graduate school | Seeking to pass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 1Q Extremely High Level |
1 year (approx. 1000 hours) | Those who wish to enter a Japanese university or graduate school | JLPT Level 1 |
| Level 2 2Q High Level |
9 to 12 months (approx. 800 hours) | Those who are studying Japanese as a prerequisite to enter a vocational school or Japanese university in the future | JLPT Level 2 |
| Level 3 3Q Moderate Level |
6 to 9 months (approx. 600 hours) | Those who wish to prepare for a university or vocational school entrance exam | JLPT Level 3 |
| Level 4 4Q Basic Level |
3 to 6 months (approx. 400 hours) | Those who are seeking to pass level 4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test | JLPT Level 4 (Equivalent to CEFR A2) |
| Level 5 5Q Very Basic Level |
1 to 3 months (approx. 200 hours) | This level is suitable for those who are seeking to pass level 5 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test. | JLPT Level 5 |
The Three Sections of the Exam
The exact organization and content of the exam differs slightly for each level, however a basic guide to the content on the NAT-TEST is as follows:
Language Knowledge (reading and vocabulary)
| Level 1 1Q |
Kanji reading, contextual comprehension, synonyms, usage |
| Level 2 2Q |
Kanji reading, orthography, word formation, contextual comprehension, synonyms, usage |
| Level 3 3Q |
Kanji reading, expressions, contextual comprehension, synonyms, usage |
| Level 4 4Q |
Kanji reading, orthography, contextual comprehension, synonyms, usage |
| Level 5 5Q |
Kanji reading, orthography, contextual comprehension |
Listening Comprehension
| Level 1 1Q |
Task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, understanding a synopsis, quick responses, integrated comprehension |
| Level 2 2Q |
Task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, understanding a synopsis, quick responses, integrated comprehension |
| Level 3 3Q |
Task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, understanding a synopsis, expressions used in speech, quick responses |
| Level 4 4Q |
Task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, expressions used in speech, quick responses |
| Level 5 5Q |
Task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, expressions used in speech, quick responses |
Test Times and Scoring
Level 1 / 1Q
| Section | Time | Total Question | Maximum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary, Grammar) Reading |
110 min | 71 questions | 120 points |
| Listening | 60 min* | 37 questions | 60 points |
| Total | 180 points | ||
Level 2 / 2Q
| Section | Time | Total Question | Maximum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary, Grammar) Reading |
105 min | 75 questions | 120 points |
| Listening | 50 min* | 32 questions | 60 points |
| Total | 180 points | ||
Level 3 / 3Q
| Section | Time | Total Question | Maximum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) |
30 min | 35 questions | 60 points |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar), Reading |
70 min | 32 questions | 60 points |
| Listening | 40 min* | 28 questions | 60 points |
| Total | 180 points | ||
Level 4 / 4Q
| Section | Time | Total Question | Maximum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) |
25 min | 28 questions | 60 points |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar), Reading |
55 min | 29 questions | 60 points |
| Listening | 35 min* | 28 questions | 60 points |
| Total | 180 points | ||
Level 5 / 5Q
| Section | Time | Total Question | Maximum Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) |
20 min | 21 questions | 60 points |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar), Reading |
40 min | 22 questions | 60 points |
| Listening | 30 min* | 24 questions | 60 points |
| Total | 180 points | ||
Passing Criteria
In order to pass the exam, test takers must achieve a score of at least 25% on each of the individual sections as well as achieve an overall score that exceeds the overall pass mark for the exam (typically around 60%).
Score
| A | You scored within the top 20% of all test takers |
| B | You scored within the top 40% of all test takers |
| C | You scored within the top 60% of all test takers |
| D | You scored within the top 80% of all test takers |
| E | You scored within the bottom 20% of all test takers |
Application Deadline for October Exam
Exam Date - 14 October 2023.
Application Deadline - 15 September 2023
Limited seats are available for this exam. If we run out of seats, the application form submission may be earlier than the actual deadline date.
Please apply as soon as possible.